WEDNESDAY,SEPT. 5, 2018 Inside: 75¢ Rains slam Gulf Coast. — Page 4B Vol. 90 ◆ No. 135 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com Counties oppose straight-party voting option ❏ Two resolutions election. their respective county clerks, Daniel Ivey-Soto, a state senator Roosevelt County Manager Both the Curry and Roosevelt Annie Hogland in Curry County from Albuquerque who also repre- Amber Hamilton said the commis- call for request for county commissions held special and DeAun Searl in Roosevelt sents county clerks statewide sion unanimously adopted the reso- meetings on Tuesday in which they County, not to include straight- Searl told The News on Tuesday lution without discussion during AG to intervene. unanimously approved resolutions party voting on the ballots for the that if straight-party voting is Tuesday’s special meeting. opposing straight-party voting. upcoming election. authorized for the upcoming elec- Hamilton said Commissioner By Jamie Cushman The two resolutions are nearly Hogland said during Tuesday’s tion, her biggest concern is the abil- Dennis Lopez was not present. STAFF WRITER identical and call for their respec- special meeting that she would not ity to properly educate voters on its At Curry’s special meeting, [email protected] tive commission chairman, Ben be able to do that if the New ramifications. Commissioners Chet Spear and McDaniel in Curry County and Mexico Supreme Court upholds “There’s not enough time to pre- Robert Thornton spoke out against County officials in eastern New Paul Grider in Roosevelt County, to Toulouse Oliver’s decision. pare the voters for the general elec- straight-party voting. Mexico struck back against New contact Attorney General Hector The Supreme Court is expected tion,” Searl said, noting that poll “In light of the overwhelming Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Balderas to request Balderas inter- to rule on Toulouse Oliver’s workers would also need to be edu- support of other counties, I strong- Toulouse Oliver’s announcement vene in the matter of straight-party authority to bring back straight- cated on straight-party voting to be ly recommend this straight-party last week to bring back straight- voting. party voting prior to the election on prepared to answer questions from party voting for the 2018 general The resolutions also encourage Nov. 6, according to an email from voters. VOTING on Page 5A Local reaction to Nike deal mixed and mild ❏ Merchants say and apparel stores said Nike was one of their top selling no major changes brands, and while they would see how the market in product sales. responded they could not imagine removing the items By David Grieder from their shelves. STAFF WRITER Kota York said he asked [email protected] his store manager about it If there’s a strong con- first thing when he came to sumer response to Nike’s work at North Plains Mall, endorsement of pro-athlete- but so far no customers had turned-activist Colin piped up on the topic. This, Kaepernick, it hasn’t quite even as the deal became a landed in eastern New trending topic on Twitter and Mexico. other social networks and Merchants in Clovis and certain celebrities made a Abaca Press: Olivier Douliery Portales carrying Nike show of cutting from their Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh testifies on the first day of his confirmation hearings Tuesday inventory told The News on clothes the iconic Nike before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Tuesday afternoon that they swoosh logo. hadn’t yet seen any major “But I’m sure something local changes in the prod- will come up,” he added. uct’s sales following the There was some talk on Rancorous, partisan start for polarizing Labor Day reveal the matter at the same store’s of an endorsement deal with Portales location, according the former San Francisco to an employee, but the 49ers quarterback. Kavanaugh high court hearing Employees of various shoe NIKE on Page 5A ❏ First of at least four a sense of inevitability that the 53- pute over Kavanaugh records with- year-old appellate judge eventually held by the White House. Republicans days of hearings begins will be confirmed, perhaps in time for in turn accused the Democrats of turn- the new term on Oct. 1 and little more ing the hearing into a circus. with quarrel, protests. than a month before congressional Trump jumped into the fray late in elections. the day, saying on Twitter that By Mark Sherman However, the first of at least four Democrats were “looking to inflict and Lisa Mascaro days of hearings by the Senate pain and embarrassment” on THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Judiciary Committee began with par- Kavanaugh. tisan quarreling over the nomination The president’s comment followed WASHINGTON — Supreme Court and persistent protests from members the statements of Democratic senators nominee Brett Kavanaugh declared of the audience, followed by their who warned that Trump was, in the fervently at his Senate confirmation arrests. words of Sen. Richard Blumenthal of hearing Tuesday the court “must Strong Democratic opposition to Connecticut, “selecting a justice on never, never be viewed as a partisan Trump’s nominee reflects the political the Supreme Court who potentially institution.” But that was at the end of stakes for both parties in advance of will cast a decisive vote in his own a marathon day marked by rancorous the November elections, Robert case.” exchanges between Democrats and Mueller’s investigation of Trump’s In Kavanaugh’s own statement at Republicans, including dire 2016 campaign and the potentially the end of more than seven hours of Democratic fears that he would be pivotal role Kavanaugh could play in arguing, the federal appeals judge Orlando Sentinel: Red Huber President Donald Trump’s advocate moving the court to the right. spoke repeatedly about the impor- on the high court. Democrats, including several sena- tance of an independent judiciary and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) The week of hearings on tors poised for 2020 presidential bids, during a 2016 practice on campus at the University of Kavanaugh’s nomination began with tried to block the proceedings in a dis- COURT on Page 5A Central Florida practice fields. Forecast: Today Thursday Friday Index Calendars..........................2A Puzzles..............................7A Reach us at: High: 81 High: 76 High: 77 Classified ......................7-8B Markets ............................3A (575) 763-3431 Comics ..............................6B Obituaries..........................2A Low: 61 Low: 60 Low: 58 Voices................................4A TV Guide ..........................5B PAGE 2A ✦ WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 5, 2018 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS Events calendar Curry requests plan for signs at fair Today Information: 575-253-4261 ■ Preschool Storytime — By Jamie Cushman month’s county fair. Janemarie Vander with four bumper stickers at last 10:30 a.m. at Portales Public Monday STAFF WRITER Dussen, the Republican candidate for month’s fair. ■ Library. Information: 575-356-3940 Women’s Initiative Network [email protected] Division 1 magistrate court judge, Pyle previously told The News that ■ Teen & Tween program — Luncheon — 11:30 a.m. at Clovis emailed County Manager Lance Pyle the county and Spectra do not have any 4:30 p.m. for ages 9-18 at Portales Civic Center. Cost: $15-$20. CLOVIS — The Curry County with concerns. Vander Dussen’s policies in place regarding political Public Library. Information: 575- Information: 575-769-2103 Commission took the first step in Democratic opponent in November, signs at the fairgrounds. 356-3940 addressing the issue of political sig- Nicole Roybal, had campaign signs on The commission on Tuesday also Tuesday nage at the Events Center and fair- the fairgounds during the county fair approved a resolution assigning posi- Thursday ■ Books and babies — 10:30 while Vander Dussen was not aware tions at the adult detention center in the ■ grounds during Tuesday’s regular Friends of the Portales a.m. for ages 0-3 at Portales Public meeting. that was an option. absence of Administrator Mark Library program — Noon in the Library. Information: 575-356-3940 The commission unanimously “Numerous political candidates and Gallegos, who is set to leave his posi- meeting room. Program by Heather ■ Afterschool STEAM — 4:30 approved a resolution calling for myself would have been happy to tion for approximately 300 days due to Christensen “Culture at the p.m. for grades K-6 at Portales Spectra, which manages the Events spend our campaign dollars on adver- a non-voluntary reassignment with the Crossroads: Journeys Along the Public Library. Information: 575- Silk Road;” sack lunches welcome. Center and fairgrounds for the county, tisement rather than, or in addition to United States Naval Reserves. 356-3940 Information: 575-356-3940 to formulate a plan regarding political booths if we had known that this was Starting Sept. 9 and lasting until ■ Honoring the Heroes of 911 ■ Prescription Drug Misuse signs at the annual county fair. an option. But we didn’t,” Vander Gallegos’ return, current Assistant — 7 p.m. at ENMU University Town Hall — 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. at Spectra will be tasked with making a Dussen wrote in the email to Pyle. Administrator Joe Alaniz will become Clovis Community College Theatre Center. Admission: Free. presentation to the commission by According to an email from Pyle to the acting administrator, Lt. Jay Pavlik Auditorium. Curry County Office Information: 618-920-7764 August and putting a plan in place the commission, Vander Dussen paid will assume the acting assistant admin- Substance Abuse Prevention will prior to the approval of any advertising $300 for a fair booth and Roybal paid istrator position and Pyle will hire a be hosting a community town hall Ongoing for next year’s fair, according to the $200 for a booth and $350 for two lieutenant this month.