SUNDAY,APRIL 23, 2017 Inside: $1.50 Relay for Life’s mushball tournament is Saturday at 8 a.m. — Page 1B Vol. 89 ◆ No. 20 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com College presidents worry about funding ❏ CCC, ENMU still for higher education is currently anced budget. Since I didn’t have “We think, in the end, the at zero, there’s no doubt uncer- a balanced budget we had to set Legislature and the governor’s recovering from last tainty — and local college presi- things aside. And then we’re office will come to a good resolu- dents are concerned. going to put it back, of course, the tion to the overall state budget, round of budget cuts. “We’re not going to not fund (funds for) higher ed and the and within that budget, we are By Eamon Scarbrough higher education,” Martinez said Legislature.” hopeful that higher education will at a Monday news conference, a Eastern New Mexico be treated fairly,” said Gamble. STAFF WRITER week-and-a-half after vetoing the University President Steven He noted any further cuts will [email protected] state budget. “That is extremely Gamble said the uncertainty is land on top of a 7.5 percent cut As the New Mexico Legislature important to the Legislature and worrisome for him and the col- from which his university is still and Gov. Susana Martinez battle to me. We set (higher ed funding) lege, but he remained optimistic over the state budget, and funding aside because I didn’t have a bal- about a possible outcome. CUTS on Page 3A CHOICES, CHOICES Incoming, Q outgoing & officials talk A about the job By Stephanie Losoya A: Mostly I will miss working with STAFF WRITER the people. When I got in municipal [email protected] government 25 years ago, I believed working with a fine group of employ- CLOVIS— The city manager ees and officials would make Clovis position is in transition, with Larry Fry leaving at the end of a better place. the month and Tom Phelps less Q: How do you than a week into his interim feel about the appointment in the position. direction Clovis is A reception is set for Tuesday going in? in the city hall assembly room for A: I think it has Fry, who has been with the city continued to move for two years. forward in a posi- Q: What was the most challeng- tive direction on the Fry ing aspect of your role and why? right path. A: It’s a very enjoyable job to have Q: What decision do you most wish you could revisit in your two an impact on your community. There years? are always challenges, but Clovis Staff photo: Alisa Boswell A: Things don’t always turn out the has been cooperative and welcoming Portales Kiwanis Club member Elwyn Hulett helps Frieda Miller pick out some red flowers Saturday way you’d like. You always just try to as a community. during the club’s annual flower sale. The event raises money for the non-profit’s projects for local Q: What will you miss most children, such as the annual pet parade and the Special Olympics, which will be held next month. about your position? Q&A on Page 3A ‘Man does not understand it all’ ❏ Remembering Churchill’s great aunt, and her Oklahoma. He played cards eight children were murdered with his stepson, then shot him the 1926 slaying a few weeks before Christmas to death after he fell asleep. David in 1926. The children ranged in age Stevens of a Farwell family. George Hassell, Susie’s hus- from 2 to 21. ◆ FARWELL — Marlowe band of about two years, said Hassell buried them all next Editor Churchill has heard his family he choked most of his victims to the house. Authorities did story many times. to death. not discover them for almost slayings almost immediately, But it didn’t become real for Hassell told authorities his three weeks after suspicious and surprised authorities with him until Tuesday. That’s wife had accused him of hav- neighbors attracted the atten- another revelation: He had when he placed his hands on ing inappropriate relations tion of law officers. killed another woman he’d the gravemarker, followed the with one of his stepdaughters. The bodies were discovered married, along with her three letters of the nine names After retreating to his barn for on Dec. 24, 1926, soon after children, three years earlier in carved into the stone, and felt a few sips of whiskey, he said Hassell hosted an auction at Whittier, California. Officials the tears. he returned to the home and his house, claiming he was found their bodies where Susie “It surprised me, it really beat Susie Hassell to death selling everything and moving Hassell said they would. Hassell did,” Churchill said about the with a hammer. He then to Oklahoma to join his family. On Feb. 10, 1928, Hassell, emotion that raced through choked to death seven of her One report showed a vehicle was electrocuted by the state Staff photo: David Stevens him when he first encountered eight children who lived with ran over a “sinkhole,” over of Texas. Marlowe Churchill, left, and Farwell native Will his ancestors. them on the farm about three which the bodies were buried. “I would like to announce to Anderson explore the site of the 1926 violence that left miles northeast of Farwell. Newspaper reports show “I guess I just never really the world,” he said, “that I am nine dead. The Hassell home was about three miles fully believed my mom. I just Susie’s oldest son, Aldon, “every able-bodied man” in prepared to meet my God. I couldn’t believe this story of was away at work that night. the area helped re-bury the vic- have made my confession to northeast of Farwell. this family being massacred When he returned a few days tims in Farwell’s Olivet ceme- God and man. Man does not Churchill, 70, a retired jour- when her Aunt Susie was slain. like this.” later, Hassell told him his sib- tery south of town. Nine understand it all, but God nalist who lives in Riverside, She and other family mem- ■ ■ ■ lings had gone with their graves were dug, side-by-side. does.” California, said his mother, Susie Ferguson Hassell, mother to visit relatives in Hassell confessed to the ■ ■ ■ Bonnie Belle, was about 10 FARWELL on Page 5A Forecast: Today Monday Tuesday Index Calendar............................2A Crossword ........................2B High: 73 High: 87 High: 83 Classified ......................4-6C Obituaries..........................3A Comics ..............................4B Sports ............................1-4D Low: 46 Low: 58 Low: 49 Commentary ..................4-5A PAGE 2A ✦ SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 2017 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS APRIL 23 Clovis senior profiles On this date ... Editor’s note: This is one in a series of What has been your favorite sub- Mexico University to complete a dou- profiles about graduating high school seniors ject in high school? ble major in forensic science and psy- 1992: A National in the area. Definitely chemistry. I want a B.A. chology. She wants to receive her doc- Women’s Study survey, in biochemistry and then go to medical torate and become either a criminal financed by the govern- AARON SELLERS is a section school through the BA/MD program. behaviorist or psychologist with her ment’s National Institution leader in the Clovis own clinic. on Drug Abuse, showed High School marching Who has been your 12.1 million American band, the National favorite teacher? Why did you choose Eastern New women had been raped at Honor Society secre- Mr. Armstrong Mexico University? least once. tary, a food service because he challenges ENMU has one of the best forensic Almost 62 percent of the aide at Plains students in class. science programs in the nation, and I assaults occurred when the play, trailed only Carlsbad, Regional Medical can have a double major there. victims were minors, the which was 6-0. Center, and a student MEGAN WEST survey showed. Portales was in fourth Rotarian. Aaron plans has been a Wildcadette What is the biggest lesson you “Twenty-nine percent of place with a 3-3 record. to attend the since her sophomore have learned in high school? the rapes occurred when the Clovis was led by pitch- University of New Sellers year and is now an West No matter what, the most important women were 10 years old or ing ace Jimmy Reynolds, Mexico through the officer on the team. thing is to be yourself and be true to young and 32 percent hap- while right-fielder Guerry BA/MD program where he will pursue She is also in the National Honor yourself? pened from ages 11 to 17,” Byers led the team in hitting an undergraduate degree in biochem- Society and does community service the report showed. at .379. istry. Next will be the University of with her gifted and talented class. — Compiled by New Mexico School of Medicine. Megan will move on to Eastern New Staff Writer Jim Lee 1962: Clovis High’s Pages Past is compiled baseball team was in second by Editor David Stevens. place in District 4-A. Contact him at: Events calendar The Wildcats, 3-1 in loop [email protected] Monday Information: 575-356-3940 ■ The Devised Project: ■ The Devised Project: Meetings calendar ■ Stitch Addicts — 1:30 ■ Tween program — 4:30 Departures — 7 p.m. perform- Departures — 7 p.m. perform- p.m. Clovis-Carver Public p.m. at Portales Public Library ance at University Theater ance at University Theater Monday Clovis-Carver Public Library.