TUESDAY,JAN. 9, 2018 Inside: 75¢ Salvadoran special protections ending. — Page 6A Vol. 89 ◆ No. 243 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com QUALITY TIME Oprah speech has Dems buzzing ❏ Interest punctuates how Trump presidency altered political norms. By Thomas Beaumont and Steve Peoples THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DES MOINES, Iowa — Oprah Winfrey’s impassioned call for “a brighter morning even in our darkest nights” at the Golden Globes has Democratic Party activists buzzing about the media superstar and the 2020 presidential race — even if it’s only a fantasy. Even so, for Democrats in early vot- ing states, and perhaps for a public that largely disapproves of President Donald Trump’s job performance, the notion of a popular media figure as a Staff photo: Tony Bullocks presidential candidate is not as strange as it once seemed, given the New York Rachel Resseguie of Clovis spends some quality time with her Great Dane Harley on Monday afternoon at the Hillcrest Dog Park. real estate mogul and reality TV star The pair came out to let Harley get some running time outdoors. The high temperature Monday was 62 degrees and today’s high now in the White House. is expected to reach 69 degrees, according to AccuWeather.com. “Look, it’s ridiculous — and I get that,” said Brad Anderson, Barack Obama’s 2012 Iowa campaign director. While he supports the idea of Winfrey running, it would also punctuate how Trump’s candidacy has altered political Medical pot enrollees nearly double norms. “At the same time, politics is ridiculous right now.” there has been some additional ❏ Growth attributed Winfrey’s speech as she accepted the qualifying conditions,” Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement Gonzales Sr. said. “The reason in part to access. award on Sunday touched on her hum- you see additional cardholders ble upbringing and childhood wonder By Jamie Cushman in Clovis is because Clovis is a in civil rights heroes. STAFF WRITER rural area and the servicing of But it was her exhortation of the [email protected] rural areas has been more legions of women who have called out laxed.” CLOVIS — The medical mar- Roosevelt county also boast- OPRAH on Page 4A ijuana market — both locally ed a considerable influx of new and across the state — is far cardholders in 2017, more than from going up in smoke. doubling its numbers from 132 According to the New Mexico to 268. Department of Health’s data, in Novel said Ultra Health’s 2017 Curry county experienced opening may be a cause of the the second-highest growth rate of medical marijuana cardhold- growth in Roosevelt county as ers out of the 21 counties in the Staff photo: Jamie Cushman well. state that began the year with at Marijuana flowers and joints are among the products sold at She said a new location open- least 200 cardholders. medical marijuana dispensaries. ing can bring in customers from Curry nearly doubled its outside the county, which would enrollees in the state’s medical new dispensary, more people pointed to several reasons why makes sense in this case given cannabis program, increasing learn about the state’s medical he has seen the number of card- the proximity between Clovis from 452 to 891 cardholders. cannabis program and become holders grow since the Clovis and Portales. Part of that growth can be cardholders. location first opened in 2014, “We’ve seen as access attributed to the opening of a “We truly feel that patient including increased medical increases in one county, patients new dispensary, Ultra Health, enrollment tends to rapidly marijuana awareness and previ- will drive to the next county to Los Angeles Times: Allen J. Schaben increase after access increases,” ously unmet needs in rural receive their medication,” which began serving Clovis Oprah Winfrey backstage Sunday customers in January 2017. Novel said. areas. Novel said. Ultra Health Communications Mario Gonzales Sr., the co- “The primary reason is New Mexicans have also at the 75th Annual Golden Globes Manager Marissa Novel said founder of Curry county’s other because people are learning at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in that when a community adds a dispensary, Budding Hope, about (medical marijuana) and MARIJUANA on Page 4A Beverly Hills, California. Public comment rules change up for approval ❏ Resolution calls for time limit of 3 minutes, interruption restriction. Carver Public Library shooting in August. At a glance BY THE STAFF OF THE NEWS commenter, a limit of one public City Council in having a time limit ■ The election of the commis- ■ comment per person, and a restric- on public comment sessions — the sion’s chairman and vice chairman Roosevelt County Commission PORTALES — Public comment tion of interruptions from the audi- council approved a resolution lim- for 2018. ■ 9 a.m. today at Roosevelt County Commission ence. iting speakers to three minutes each ■ Consideration of approval of a ■ Roosevelt County Courthouse meetings will have a new set of Commenters will also be restrict- in September. New Mexico Department of rules if an item at today’s meeting ed from being disruptive or engag- Also at today’s meeting at 9 a.m. Homeland Security and Emergency is approved. ing in personal attacks against in the Roosevelt County Management disaster assistance ■ Consideration of a resolution The resolution, titled “public commissioners or county employ- Courthouse: grant. on compliance with the New participation at Roosevelt County ees. ■ Recognition of the Roosevelt ■ Possible approval of 2018 Mexico Open Meetings Act. Commission meetings,” calls for a If the resolution is approved, the County Sheriff’s Office for its Roosevelt County committee ■ Consideration of second quar- time limit of three minutes per commission will join the Portales assistance during the Clovis- assignments. ter budget adjustments. Forecast: Today Wednesday Thursday Index Calendars..........................2A Puzzles..............................5A Reach us at: High: 70 High: 60 High: 47 Classified ......................5-6B Markets ............................2A (575) 763-3431 Comics ..............................4B Obituaries..........................3A Low: 42 Low: 31 Low: 26 Voices................................4A Sports ............................1-3B PAGE 2A ✦ TUESDAY, JAN. 9, 2018 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS Closed street on Portales agenda Meetings calendar Today building, 100 School St., Dora. BY THE STAFF OF THE NEWS Another informational item on the have an inspector unless he would do it ■ Roosevelt County Information: 575-477-2211 meeting’s agenda is about an open posi- all,’ and see how the council wants to Commission — 9 a.m. in the com- ■ Dora Village Council — 7 p.m. PORTALES — Prompted by a dis- tion of building proceed with that.” mission room at the county court- at Dora Fire Department, 220 E. cussion in a December meeting, inspector within the At a glance Also at tonight’s meeting at 6:30 p.m. house, 109 W. First St., Portales. Avenue A, Dora. Information: 575- Portales City Manager Sammy city. in the Memorial Building: Information: 575-356-5307 477-2411 ■ ■ Clovis Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Standefer will enlighten the city council Because the state ■ Portales City A proclamation declaring Jan. 15, Board — 5:30 p.m. in the assembly about a closed street at tonight’s meet- must improve all 2018 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Jan. 16 Council room at the Bert Cabiness City ing. city building Portales. ■ Bailey County Commission — ■ 6:30 tonight Government Center, 321 N. Connelly A stretch of Commercial Street inspectors, Portales ■ Recognition of the Portales Police St., Clovis. Information: 575-769-7828 10 a.m. (CST) at Bailey County Clerk’s ■ between Boston Avenue and Main has been asked to Memorial Department for assisting the Clovis ■ Portales City Council — 6:30 Office, 300 S. First St., Muleshoe. Building p.m. in the Memorial Building, 200 E. Information: 806-272-3044 Street has been closed for several years hire an individual Police Department during the Clovis ■ Clovis Cultural and Ethnic at the request of commodity trading that can also work library shooting in August. Seventh St., Portales. Information: ■ 575-356-6662 Affairs Committee — Noon at the company J.D. Heiskell, according to in the areas of A public hearing authorizing a $1 ■ Texico City Council — 6:30 Bert Cabiness City Government Standefer, but Councilor Oscar “electrical, plumb- million loan agreement for the con- p.m. at Texico City Hall, 219 South Center, 321 N. Connelly St., Clovis. Robinson requested information about ing, mechanical, gas, or not do any of struction of Portales’ new fire substa- Griffin St., Texico. Information: 575- Information: 575-769-7828 how long the road has been closed. them,” according to Standefer. tion. 482-3314 ■ Farwell City Council — 5:30 “I think that’s what the question from “That’s kind of what I’m bringing ■ A request to purchase a new ■ Floyd Village Council — 7 p.m. p.m. (CST) at Farwell City Hall, 100 the council was: Why was it closed, forth to the council, is ‘This is what the Portales Area Transit System vehicle on at Floyd Community Center, 1572 Ninth St., Farwell. Information: 806- New Mexico 267, Floyd. Information: 481-3620 those things,” Standefer said. state said. They really don’t want us to a state purchasing agreement. 575-478-2585 Jan. 17 Wednesday ■ ■ Clovis Local Emergency Clovis Planning and Zoning Planning Committee — 1 p.m. at the Commission — 3 p.m. at the Bert Events calendar Bert Cabiness City Government Cabiness City Government Center, Today Resolution jars. Information: 575- ■ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 575-356-3940 321 N. Connelly St., Clovis. Center, 321 N. Connelly St., Clovis. ■ Filing — For municipal candi- 356-3940 Ceremony —5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in ■ Stitch Addicts — 6:30 p.m. at Information: 575-769-7828 Information: 575-769-7828 dates across New Mexico ■ Preschool storytime — 6 the Portales High School Clovis-Carver Public Library.