Clovis Christian Graduating Class 'High-Achieving'
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SUNDAY,MAY 20,2018 Inside: $1.50 Clovis High School graduates step into the future. — Page 1B Vol. 90 ◆ No. 43 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com Officer ‘embarrassed’ about missing gun in pat down ❏ Wesley Flores still I’m so embarrassed, you cannot even respond to interview requests from dent. imagine right now,” Sanford Wagner media, is seen on previously released “My heart sank to my freakin’ recovering after shot told an interviewing officer shortly video patting down Flores as he was feet,” Wagner said in the video inter- after Flores began a four-hour stand- arrested at his grandfather's house. At view, when he first realized what was to face during standoff. off with police. “I may have missed the jail, Flores accompanied Wagner happening. By David Grieder something. Well, obviously I did.” into the pre-booking vestibule, where Flores, 28, is recovering from his The interview was part of video he was met by a jail officer, who wounds, and still faces pending STAFF WRITER released this month by Clovis police began processing Flores into custody charges connected to the standoff. [email protected] in response to an Inspection of Public as Wagner left the small room. The video from the standoff shows Detention Center image a small force of law enforcement, CLOVIS — The Clovis police Records Act request filed by The Records show the jail officer exit- One officer readies a flash-bang News. ed the pre-booking vestibule almost armed, with shields and gas masks, officer who brought Wesley Flores diversionary device hoisted on a Flores ultimately shot himself in immediately, leaving Flores alone, breaching the side door of the pole, right, moments before into the Clovis jail on Feb. 1 told a vestibule where Flores had been iso- the face as police introduced pepper when the gun appeared. Jail breaching a side door of a pre- fellow officer he was "embarrassed" spray into the pre-booking vestibule Administrator Mark Gallegos lated. that he'd allowed Flores to bring a where he produced the gun he'd hid- described it as a brief "hostage situa- Officials have said pepper spray booking area in the jail where gun into the facility. den in his clothing. tion," which may factor into the Wesley Flores kept police at bay “Very small, that Kimber Micro … Wagner, who has declined to charges still pending from the inci- STANDOFF on Page 5A for four hours. Clovis Christian SLOW AND STEADY graduating class ‘high-achieving’ ❏ Six recognized for their successes inside and outside of the classroom. By Jamie Cushman GPA.” STAFF WRITER Reflecting back on their [email protected] time at CCS, many of the graduates also looked CLOVIS — Six seniors beyond the classroom to the graduated from Clovis athletic field for their Christian Schools on favorite memories at the Saturday at Living Stones school. Church. They were praised For Jenna and Patricia for more than just academic Steele, it was archery, for success. Keith Dunton and Josh Fly, “This graduating class it was football, and for has been high-achieving, Reagan Glover, it was track. but also all-around skilled," “It’s a real family envi- said Superintendent Ladona ronment,” Glover said of Clayton. "They haven’t just the track team, a sentiment focused on an academic Fly echoed as well. goal, they focused on ath- Dunton said that family- Staff photo: Jamie Cushman letics, they built their spiri- like atmosphere extended Johnathan Tijerina, age 7, touches a tortoise during Clovis Family Fun Day on Saturday at Hillcrest Park Zoo. tual lives. ... They never into the classroom too. The zoo and the splash park were free to attend during the event which also featured a free lunch. lost focus of continuing to “It’s nice because the grow spiritually and be sure teachers single you out and their academics stayed can help you with your strong. There’s not a stu- work. There’s not 30 kids in dent in that bunch that did not have a good solid GRADS on Page 5A Breaking ground for detention center ❏ The new facility is unit, a medical unit, two recreational — a convicted killer — eluded yards and a new sally port to be con- authorities for four years. funded by gross structed on Ninth Street, was debated Despite county officials' con- for years, repeatedly rejected by vot- tentions the escapes were related to receipts tax increase. ers, and ultimately funded by poor construc- tion of the jail, By Jamie Cushman a gross receipts tax increase implemented by county com- Fast facts voters three STAFF WRITER missioners. times voted [email protected] “It was 10 years of work- ■ Tuesday’s groundbreaking down proposals ceremony begins at 10 a.m. CLOVIS — Curry County on ing on funding and getting for improve- Tuesday will break ground on a deten- the funds secured to do the ments. tion center addition and renovation renovations and additions that are In November 2010, more than 70 project that’s 10 years in the making. needed,” County Manager Lance Pyle percent of Curry County voters reject- “It’s been a long road, but it’s final- said. “And also a lot of studies that ed a $33 million proposal that would ly headed towards the end,” Curry went into doing the renovations and have renovated the jail and court- County Commission Chairman Ben additions.” house. In April 2012, voters said no to a Staff photo: Jamie Cushman McDaniel said. “A year and a half Debate regarding the jail began in $9.3 million project that would have Reagan Glover addreses the audience during Clovis about construction time, so we’re not 2008 after a series of inmate escapes, quite there yet, but slowly getting most notably when eight men with renovated the jail. The vote was 1,014 Christian Schools’ graduation ceremony on Saturday at there.” violent criminal histories climbed to 946. Living Stones Church. Glover was one of six graduates The project, which will include a through the jail's roof. All were ulti- recognized at the event. nearly 14,000 square foot housing mately recaptured, but Edward Salas FACILITY on Page 6A Forecast: Today Monday Tuesday Index Calendar............................2A Crossword ........................3B Reach us at: High: 69 High: 76 High: 78 Classified ......................5-6C Obituaries..........................3A Comics ..............................4B Sports ............................1-4D (575) 763-3431 Low: 54 Low: 57 Low: 58 Commentary ..................4-5A PAGE 2A ✦ SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2018 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS School shooting suspect held in isolation Tony’s pic of the week By Molly Hennessy- their abandoned belongings. Department, said Barnes Staff photo: Fiske, Matt Pearce After surrendering to might lose his right arm. police at the school, “We want to know exactly Tony Bullocks and Jenny Jarvie Pagourtzis waived his right what went on in there,” Dale A great horned LOS ANGELES TIMES to remain silent and con- said. “All we know is he was owlet gives a fessed to the shooting, the first one in there and he SANTA FE, Texas — A “Who-are-you- authorities said. Pagourtzis was shot in both arms.” looking-at?” student who authorities said said “he did not shoot stu- Walter Braun, chief of the glare Friday confessed to killing 10 peo- dents he did like so he could school district’s police ple at a Houston-area high have his story told,” accord- department, declined to afternoon at school was being held in iso- ing to a probable-cause state- answer questions about the Hillcrest Park lation Saturday as the com- ment. police response to the shoot- Zoo. The owlet munity continued to mourn. Henry questioned the sus- ing or whether the depart- was taken to Two bombs that junior pected shooter at his initial ment had seen any warning Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, the zoo briefly court appearance Friday. signs from Pagourtzis before after it was allegedly brought to Santa Fe Pagourtzis answered the the attack. reported in High School Friday were judge’s questions, admitting “Our officers went in there “intended to be IEDs,” the shooting, but said little and did what they could,” possible danger, improvised explosive else, Henry said. Braun said at a news confer- apparently sep- devices, but turned out to be Officials also increased the ence. “They did what they arated from its “nonfunctional,” Galveston number of reported injuries were trained for, and went in family. Officials County Judge Mark Henry at Friday’s shooting from 10 immediately.” said it said Saturday. to 13. One of the shooting While the school was now appeared Pagourtzis, who had believed to be free of explo- victims, school police healthy and allegedly posted images of Officer John Barnes, sives, all district schools will guns and a T-shirt with the remained in critical but stable remain closed until at least reminded area words “BORN TO KILL” on condition Saturday after Tuesday as officials sort residents that social media in the weeks nearly dying from blood loss, through the crime scene. such animals before the shooting, is being police officials said. Officers have been bring- should not be held without bond while fac- “This guy ran toward dan- ing in students 10 at a time to bothered in ing charges of capital murder ger. I can’t thank him gather belongings from parts their habitat. and aggravated assault on a enough,” Henry said in an of the school that were not Those eyes public servant. interview. “He’s a hero in my closed off, Braun said. His schoolmates were book.” Officials have not yet pub- and attitude allowed to return to the A close friend, Capt.