WEEKEND EDITION SUNDAY,JAN. 31, 2021 Inside: $1.50 Bovina clinches postseason berth — Page 1B Vol. 92 ◆ No. 88 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com Legislators: Virtual format makes session different ❏ 354 bills introduced ferent. We're totally working off of resulting in House leaders further “I would like to see if we can our computers, so we're working off Inside restricting access to the House floor change our election laws and give it from House, Senate. of a Zoom call with a voting app sessions and to capital building more transparency,” Woods said. “I attached,” said Rep. Jack Chatfield, ■ Bills sponsored by local legislators meeting rooms. New rules specifi- had so many complaints on that, By Lily Martin R-Mosquero. He added they are — Page 8B cally for the virtual session had to be probably a couple hundred emails STAFF WRITER having to work harder to get feed- created so that representatives could about the last election, and I think [email protected] back from the public on bills as they participate and vote remotely and that this law that I have could give it come up. “The capital is getting all said Woods, R-Broadview. for public comments to be made by more transparency. That is the main Local lawmakers are getting into of the kinks out of the system, but I “It is completely different. As a Zoom or over the phone. All in all, it one that I would like to do.” the swing of things as New think we've been doing pretty good matter of fact they shut down the is a session that represents the times. Several of Woods' other spon- Mexico's 2021 regular 60-day leg- and it's going fairly smoothly.” House (on Friday) because there Despite the times however, local sored bills involve the climate, from islative session rounds the two- Sen. Pat Woods’ assessment of were some positive (COVID-19) representatives are looking forward reforestation to weather modifica- week mark. The session, which is the session concurred with tests, and the meetings are cumber- with the bills they have sponsored tion. His focus is to provide funding operating mostly over Zoom with Chatfield's and he added that, “it is a some at best,” said Rep. Randal and co-sponsored so far. for projects that would help farmers few in-person meetings in Santa Fe, very odd deal not to be able to go to Crowder, R-Clovis, noting that Senate Bill 48 “Election and ranchers and expand access to has 354 bills introduced from the a committee room and present a while things were going slower he Changes” covers amendments made weather information. House and Senate. bill.” also felt that it was not as thorough to the election process in New “We also have a bill that I'm co- “This session is very different “It's just hard to be there and not as past years. Mexico, which Woods sponsored sponsoring that's about state meat from past sessions. There's no pub- be there, and to tell if you're getting So far five cases of COVID-19 after being reached out to by con- lic access allowed so that's very dif- your point across or anything else,” have been reported at the Capitol, stituents this past election season. LEGISLATURE on Page 3A Clovis discusses in-person learning ❏ Superintendent says district ‘finalizing plans for start dates.’ By Kevin Wilson EDITOR [email protected] CLOVIS — The Clovis Municipal Schools Board of Education met on Tuesday, as it generally does near the conclusion of a month. But the timing was of note, with the state announcing earlier that day that in-person learning would soon happen again for all grades for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began last March. Superintendent Renee Russ was admittedly short on details for the Staff photo: Kevin Wilson Tuesday evening meeting, given that Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce President Laura Leal, left, hands a guitar to Past President Greg Southard Friday administration received state timelines and expectations only a few hours prior. at Calibers Shooting Range. The chamber traditionally celebrates outgoing presidents at its annual chamber banquet, which was Hybrid learning can extend to grades 6- canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 12 beginning Feb. 8, but the district has not committed to that or any other date. Russ told The News on Friday the dis- trict is “finalizing plans for start dates Chamber president celebrated for different grade levels” and will release more information in the coming ❏ Officials surprise Greg chamber representatives, including new facetiously characterizing the pandemic as a week. Chamber President Laura Leal, at the product of Southard’s leadership. “I told The district has been operating in Southard with convoy to Calibers Indoor Shooting Range that Thom (Moore) the same thing about the hybrid mode for grades K-5 since Jan. Southard manages. music festival.” 19. mark the end of his term. He was presented with the standard logo- The event did double as an announcement “Of course,” Russ said, “we're embossed guitar, a sculpture modeled after for Southard, who said he has found a buyer absolutely thrilled at the prospect of By Kevin Wilson the chamber ambassador pin and various for his Leslie Candy Company. He wasn’t returning our students to some workable EDITOR foods and gift certificates. sure whether the business would stay in version of in-person learning, but there [email protected] Southard said he appreciated the surprise Clovis or relocate, but said he retains the are obstacles. Having adequate staffing gathering, planned by chamber officials option to open a retail store in either sce- is one of our No. 1 concerns.” CLOVIS — The cancellation of the annu- The district will continue with three weeks in advance and finalized that morning nario. al Clovis/Curry County Chamber of cohorts to keep in-person attendance at with a phone call to staff to confirm Southard Southard, who was born in Artesia before Commerce banquet due to COVID-19 was working. or below 50%: moving to Clovis when he was 11, recalled restrictions meant outgoing Chamber Regarding his year at the post, Southard ■ Cohort A, which attends school in his early Clovis memories, including the President Greg Southard couldn’t go to a cel- said he felt bad he wasn’t able to do more for person Monday and Tuesday and goes ebration of his year at the helm. businesses, but was told his work to help underpass that preceded the Prince Street virtual the rest of the week. So chamber officials brought the celebra- businesses stay afloat was noteworthy in and overpass and the train rides he would take to ■ Cohort B, which learns remotely tion to him, surprising Southard with a con- of itself. visit relatives. Some of the community love Monday through Wednesday and voy at his workplace Friday morning to mark “I have a lot of praise for you,” Leal said, could be found in the shooting sports com- attends school in person Thursday and a president’s term unlike any other. “and how you got us through this last year.” plex, including a Clovis Wildcats flag hang- Friday. Chamber Executive Director Ernie Kos The unofficial ceremony was mostly punc- ing from the wall with “LESLIE CANDY ■ The online-only Cohort C. welcomed Southard to the rank of “PP” — tuated by laughs, including a reference to COMPANY” written on the edge in perma- Families can put their children into past president, but noted she would probably ambitious plans Southard had before the pan- nent marker. Cohort C at any time, but the district call him the “pandemic president” instead. demic stepped in and a joking barb from past “There’s something special about this notes a transfer from C to A or B will “I hope you always think of me in that president Derek Cockrell. place that can’t be explained,” Southard said. take longer because schools have to stay way,” Southard said with a laugh. “I want to say none of this garbage hap- “We’re just this little dusty spot in the within capacity restrictions. Kos was joined by about a dozen other pened when I was president,” Cockrell said, Plains.” Russ said surveillance testing will be 25% of staff each week, and any site that experiences four rapid responses “There’s something special about this place that can’t be explained. within 14 calendar days must go to We’re just this little dusty spot in the Plains.” remote learning for 14 days. — Greg Southard, outgoing Chamber President SCHOOLS on Page 3A Forecast: Today Monday Tuesday Index Classified ......................7-8A In Tribute........................6-7B Reach us at: High: 53 High: 57 High: 69 Life ................................3-5B Obituaries..........................6A (575) 763-3431 Low: 27 Low: 36 Low: 44 Voices ............................4-5A Sports ............................1-2B PAGE 2A ✦ SUNDAY, JAN. 31, 2021 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS LOCAL ROUNDUP State weighs extending next school year Nonemergency Clovis seeks to By Dan McKay wants to address some questions before the Senate Education Committee on a ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL final passage. She feared the proposal 7-1 vote. It heads next to the Senate phone lines out fill vacant position would have the effect of penalizing dis- Finance Committee. PORTALES — The CLOVIS — The city of SANTA FE — Even before schools tricts that return to in-person learning, The legislation would require public Portales Police Department Clovis is seeking a represen- reopen, New Mexico lawmakers are and some districts, she said, may schools, including charter schools, to will see its nonemergency tative for a vacant position mapping out how to help students catch already have enacted longer school provide either the K-5 Plus program — phone lines go out of service on its water policy advisory up next year after a lack of in-person years.