enmjobnder.com SATURDAY,MAY 20,2017 Inside: 75¢ The Portales Police Department hosted its annual “Adopt a Cop” event Thursday. — Page 3A Vol. 89 ◆ No. 43 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com City to apply for shooting range grant ❏ The commission voted 6-2 in The vote was simply to approve non-profit, likely a 501 C-3 organi- need in the city budget, but that he Clovis commission favor following nearly three hours the application as the first step in zation, should run the range. wants commissioners to have an voted 6-2 to approve of discussion. Commissioners the process. If the grant from the Mayor David Lansford noted “investment mentality for quality Sandra Taylor-Sawyer and New Mexico Game and Fish money for the range comes from of life issues.” start of process. Ladonna Clayton voted in dissent, Department is approved, the city taxes on ammunition. Commissioner Tom Martin said with Taylor-Sawyer feeling the would need to provide $41,000 to “If there (are) no facilities for he’d lost sleep over the decision By Stephanie Losoya money would better serve existing cover pre-construction inspections socialization and recreation, the Wednesday night, and that is was STAFF WRITER programs and Clayton concerned and first-year operations, plus quality of the city is downgraded,” the hardest decision he’s had to [email protected] about new spending so soon after $8,750 in recurring costs in subse- said Lansford. make as a commissioner. the city’s July 1 gross receipts tax quent years. He went on to say he understands “The shooting range can be ben- CLOVIS — After a spirited dis- increase. The agreement would state that a the difference between a want and a cussion on the need for recreation, eficial,” said Martin, “(but it is) up and what role the city government to us to use our best judgment ... should play in filling that need, “The shooting range can be beneficial, (but it is) up to us to use our best judgment ... each each one of us (commissioners) Clovis city commissioners approved needs to vote what we feel is best a grant application for an archery one of us (commissioners) needs to vote what we feel is best for the entire city.” for the entire city.” and winged shooting range and training center at Ned Houk Park. — Commissioner Tom Martin RANGE on Page 2A CON-GRAD-ULATIONS Clovis bids farewell to Col. Maitre ❏ Col. Gilpin, Lt. Col. Sullivan have also been reassigned. By Stephanie Losoya STAFF WRITER [email protected] CLOVIS — Col. Benjamin Maitre, wing commander of the 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, and his wing staff, Col. Douglas Gilpin and Lt. Col. Diane Sullivan are moving on to other assign- ments. Mayor Lansford presented Maitre, Gilpin and Sullivan each a key to the city during Thursday’s City Commission meeting. “(Maitre) is somebody to be modeled after,” said Lansford. “Your leadership has been instrumental (as you) con- tributed to the well being of our community and security of our nation,” he said. Maitre accepted the honor saying, “I consider Clovis a part of my heart” and that the sense of community in Clovis “encap- sulates (the) base.” Staff photo: Kevin Wilson Maitre went on to say he and his wife both “have a heart for Sall Ahmadian delivers a speech on the past during Friday’s Clovis High School graduation ceremonies at the Curry County Events Clovis.” Center. The Eastern New Mexico News will provide coverage of the ceremony in Sunday’s edition. Col. Gilpin and Lt. Col. Sullivan each had similar senti- ments to share with the com- missioners. “We can’t say enough about the support we get out on base (from the Clovis community),” Local libraries plan summer fun said Gilpin. “You all have made Clovis our truest home of all ❏ our assignments,” he said. Both locations have activities, events “The community continues to welcome the military,” said lined up in children’s summer programs. Sullivan. “Time after time, you’ve supported us, (and) it’s By Alisa Boswell Library, said the program has “a little something for everyone” been a wonderful experience.” MANAGING EDITOR Also at Thursday’s meeting: [email protected] with a program for 7 years and ■ up and a toddler program for 4 Mark Dayhoff, the There is fun to be had at the years and under. Director for Parks and Clovis and Portales libraries this She said Mondays at the Recreation, updated the com- summer as both prepare for the Clovis library will be “Movie mission on the success of the start of their summer children’s Monday,” but the summer will Great American Cleanup held program to begin the first week also include many exciting visi- on May 6. of June. tors, such as the Clovis zoo, the “We had an absolutely perfect This year’s theme for both astronomy club and Curious day for the event,” said libraries is “Build a Better Chris, the singing scientist. Dayhoff, “and an enthusiastic World” in which the two libraries “The kids love him. He always and productive group of volun- are planning STEM (Math, has interactive things,” Carter teers” including several com- Science, Technology and Math) said of the singing scientist. missioners and the city manag- activities, events that emphasize “Just fun, fun, fun all summer er, Tom Phelps. treating the Earth kindly and of long, and it’s free. Everything is In total, there were only 199 course, some activities in which supported by the community. It participants compared to last “we are going to just have fun, is all community-sponsored.” year’s 270. The smaller group File photo and it won’t really follow the Tawna Luscombe, children’s still managed to clean up a total theme.” librarian for the Portales Public Clovis zoo will be visiting both libraries this summer as part of their count of over 428 tons of waste Krissie Carter, youth services children’s programs. It is one of many activities of the programs librarian at Clovis Carver LIBRARY on Page 2A that will begin June 5 in Clovis and June 1 is Portales. FAREWELL on Page 5A Forecast: Today Sunday Monday Index Calendar............................2A Crossword ........................4A High: 73 High: 81 High: 78 Classified ..........................6B Markets ............................2A Comics ..............................5B Obituaries..........................5A Low: 45 Low: 55 Low: 50 Sports ............................1-3B PAGE 2A ✦ SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2017 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS HOME FIRE Applicants sought for Pioneer Days Parade THE STAFF OF THE NEWS Force Base. Col. Stewart Hammons, The Clovis/Curry County who will succeed Col. Chamber of Commerce is Benjamin Maitre as com- accepting applications for mander of the 27th Special the Pioneer Days Parade, Operations Wing, will serve scheduled for 10 a.m. June 3 as this year’s Pioneer Days along Main Street. Parade Marshal. This year’s parade theme Registration forms are is “Cowboys and Camo” to available at the chamber celebrate a decade of Air office at 105 E. Grand Ave. Force Special Operations Information: 575-763- Command at Cannon Air 3435. Events calendar Today Information: 575-769-7840 ■ Airmen Ruck March — 7 a.m. start at Curry County Thursday Courthouse finishing at ■ Towel Day — 6 p.m. in Cannon. They will compete indi- Ingram Room at Clovis-Carver vidually and in teams. Canned Public Library. Bring a towel. goods in the ruck sack will be Snacks welcome. Information: donated to local food banks. 575-763-9687 Information: 575-763-3435 ■ Movie night — 6 p.m. at ■ Blood drive — 10 a.m.- Clovis-Carver Public Library. 1:30 p.m. at Valley Furniture, Movie: Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Portales. Information: 575-625- Galaxy. Information: 575-769- 7840 Staff photo: Tony Bullocks 9743 ■ Cops & Kids Basketball Clovis Fire Department crew members handle a report of a trailer fire on the 1500 block of Martin Luther King Ongoing — 9 a.m. at Rock Staubus Drive Friday afternoon. Officials from CFD said the fire was mostly limited to the area outside of the main struc- ■ Pintores artist of the Gymnasium at Clovis High ture and there were no injuries. month — Heather Hancock is School. Information: 575-769- the featured artist for May at 1921 Clovis-Carver Public Library. ■ Texico HS graduation — Information: 575-769-7840 the shooting range opera- Program Coordinator for regarding the matter. 2 p.m. at Texico Schools. ■ Young Masters juried Range tions. New Mexico Department of “It’ll put Clovis on the Information: 575-482-3801 Interim City Manager Tom Game and Fish in order to map” said Joe Whitehurst, student art show — Through from Page 1A June 16 at Eula Mae Edwards Phelps said any profit would clarify several components of president of the Clovis Lions Monday go back into operations for the application and agree- Club, “I agree with Museum and Gallery at CCC. Commissioner Sandra ■ Stitch Addicts — 1:30 Taylor-Sawyer also improvements, but a rebate ment process. Commissioner Madrid, think Information: 575-769-2811 p.m. at Clovis-Carver Public expressed concerns regarding agreement could be added to The initial language in the of the big picture.” He where the $8,750 annual the contract. proposal stated the agreement expressed that he felt the Library. Book: Call the Midwife. The events calendar is a recurring costs would come “This is just step one,” said with the state would hold a money was better used for Information: 575-769-7840 daily listing of area events. To from. Phelps, “if the commission 50 year term with the state the purpose of the shooting place an item on the calendar, approves, (we) still have to and that if the location ceased range.