WEDNESDAY,DEC. 14, 2016 National news: 75¢ Trump picks former Texas Governor Rick Perry for the Energy Department. — Page 4B Vol. 88 ◆ No. 221 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com Heartland center files for bankruptcy ❏ Portales assisted living facility employs 68 people and houses 70. By Alisa Boswell MANAGING EDITOR [email protected] PORTALES — Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales recently filed for Chapter 11 bank- ruptcy, according to a notice from Moore, Bassan & Behles Attorneys at Law. The bankruptcy was filed on Dec. 2, according to court documents pro- vided by the Albuquerque law firm, which filed a motion requesting Staff photo: Tony Bullocks Heartland be allowed to remain in Herschal Arnold of Clovis, left, watches Tuesday afternoon as UPS Store Assistant Manager Heather Fuentes takes measure- operation using current funding that ments of a package Arnold is shipping to a family member out of state. is coming into the facility. “If the debtor is unable to continue its operations, the residents will be helpless, and the State of New Mexico or the federal government Shipping deadlines loom will have to undertake the burden of caring for the residents until alternate ❏ permitting, she added, next-day air is a Local representatives say The following are Christmas shipping arrangements can be made for each guaranteed but costly option. one of them,” the motion reads, deadlines observed by local mail services: shipping at last minute can Those hoping to ship UPS ground — the adding that the facility has enough not-so costly but not as guaranteed option funding to cover current operating impact your pocketbook. — should ship by Friday, Norenberg said. expenses. ■ Ground: Friday As UPS customer Marilyn Odom puts it, According to a statement made in By Kurt Munz-Raper “shop early, mail early.” ■ Three-Day Select: Monday ■ the motion by Joann Isaacson, the STAFF WRITER “For Christmas, I usually ship right Two-Day Air: Dec. 21 ■ administrator of Heartland, the assist- [email protected] around the 15th,” said Odom. “It gets there Next-Day Air: Dec. 22 ed living facility employs 68 people to friends out of town. This is the best way When it comes to Christmas, there’s a and houses 70 residents. you can ship.” price for procrastination. According to the motion, the facili- Christmas shipping deadlines are fast Friday is the same deadline for FedEx ground shipping. Deadlines for two-day ty is delinquent on state taxes, but approaching for the United Parcel Service ■ Ground: Friday according to Mary Vallejos with and overnight are Dec. 21 and Dec. 22, ■ (UPS), United States Postal Service FedEx Two-Day: Dec. 21 Moore, Bassan & Behles, the facility respectively, according to the FedEx web- ■ FedEx Overnight: Dec. 22 (USPS) and FedEx, but local representa- is indebted to other creditors as well. tives stress earlier is better and advised site. Vallejos also confirmed Tuesday wrapping it up in the next week. However, Cozetta Moore from the Print “If (you) wait until the last minute,” Shop in Portales, a FedEx shipping site, that the facility is being allowed to Clovis UPS Store Manager Amy Norenberg suggests shipping ground packages there remain in operation for the time being ■ Ground: Thursday and that another motion will be filed said, “depending on where (the package) is on Thursday. ■ First-Class Mail: Tuesday for “continued use of cash collateral,” going, you’re essentially buying an airline “The more you procrastinate on shipping, ■ Priority Mail: Dec. 21 ticket for the package.” the more it’s going to cost you,” said ■ Priority Mail Express: Dec. 23 so the facility can continuing operat- UPS deadlines are Monday for three-day Moore. ing with current funding. select, Dec. 21 for two-day air and Dec. 22 Isaacson referred comments to the for next-day air, Norenberg said. Weather SHIPPING on Page 5A law firm. ‘Hell or High Water’ nominated for Golden Globes ❏ Courtesy photo: CBS Films Movie was filmed in part in Clovis and Portales. Jeff Bridges, shown By Eamon Scarbrough ring Jeff Bridges and Chris Director Karl Terry. with Gil Birmingham, Pine, received nominations STAFF WRITER “When I saw the movie, I was nominated for a Monday in the categories of was pretty confident it would Golden Globes best [email protected] best motion picture (drama), get nominated for lots of supporting actor award A movie filmed in Portales best supporting actor (Jeff awards. I think this is just the Bridges) and best screenplay. for his role as Marcus and Clovis was recently beginning. I think they’ll get Production took place in Hamilton in “Hell or nominated for three Golden the summer of 2015 in both some more nominations,” he High Water.” The film Globe awards, much to the Clovis and Portales. said. “It was just a well-done also has nominations excitement of those instru- movie, and it was just kind The news didn’t come as a for best screenplay mental in their communities’ of cool for Portales to be a surprise for Roosevelt and best picture involvement. County Chamber of “Hell or High Water,” star- Commerce Executive MOVIE on Page 5A (drama). Forecast: Today Thursday Friday Index Calendars..........................2A Puzzles..............................6A High: 61 High: 61 High: 68 Classified ..........................6B Markets ............................2A Comics ..............................5B Obituaries..........................5A Low: 26 Low: 39 Low: 47 Commentary......................4A Sports ............................1-3B PAGE 2A ✦ WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14, 2016 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS Events calendar Judge dismisses deputy’s Today ments. Information: 575-763-9683 Clovis. Information: 218-4914 ■ Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild ■ Pre-K story hour — 10 a.m. ■ Samaritan House Christmas Christmas Binge — 7 p.m. in Town at Clovis-Carver Public Library. Bonanza — 1 p.m.-3 p.m. at Hall at Clovis Community College. Theme: Santa. Information: 575- Church of the Brethren, 101 wrongful termination suit Tickets: $10. Information: 575-769- 763-9683 Acoma, Clovis. Proceeds go toward 2811 ■ Ambassador’s movie — 6 sponsorships. Information: 575- By Alisa Boswell ‘when the plaintiff pleads factual content that ■ Blood drive — 2:45 p.m.-6:30 p.m. at the YAM Theatre, Portales. 265-8676 or 575-219-2670 MANAGING EDITOR allows the court to draw the reasonable infer- p.m. at Central Baptist Church, Movie: ‘Muppets Christmas Carol.’ [email protected] ence that the defendant is liable for the mis- Clovis. Information: 575-840-8178 Admission: Free. Information: 575- Sunday conduct alleged,’” reads the order of dis- ■ Christmas Nites at the Zoo 356-5354 ■ Gun show — 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at A federal lawsuit filed earlier this year by missal. “‘Threadbare recitals of the elements — 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at Hillcrest Park Melrose Senior Center, 427 Main a former Roosevelt County sheriff’s deputy of a cause of action, supported by mere con- Zoo, Clovis. Admission is free, but Friday St. Admission: $4 adults, $2 mili- has been dismissed by a U.S. magistrate clusory statements, do not suffice.’” donations are welcome. ■ Christmas Nites at the Zoo tary, under 18 free. Information: judge. McCasland, who still works for the sher- Information: 575-769-7873 — 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at Hillcrest Park 575-309-4496 Robert Ellison sued Roosevelt County and iff’s office, could not be reached for com- ■ Preschool story time — Zoo, Clovis. Admission is free, but ■ Christmas dinner — 10:45 the sheriff’s office in May for wrongful ter- ment. Sheriff Malin Parker on Tuesday said 10:30 a.m. at Portales Public donations are welcome. a.m. at Living Word Church, Clovis. mination. he declined to comment on behalf of himself Library. Book: Jingle All The Way. Information: 575-769-7873 Information: 575-218-1914 According to the suit, Deputy Christopher and McCasland. ■ Information: 575-356-3940 Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild McCasland allegedly told Ellison he inten- Ellison said Tuesday the case was dis- ■ Tween program — 4:30 p.m. Christmas Binge — 7 p.m. in Town Monday ■ tionally injured an inmate while working for missed due to the Supreme Court saying that at Portales Public Library for ages Hall at Clovis Community College. Stitch Addicts — 1:30 p.m. at another law enforcement agency and when anything an officer says while on duty is 9-12. Game: Just Dance. Tickets: $10. Information: 575-769- Clovis-Carver Public Library. Ellison reported this to superiors, nothing “unprotected speech,” because the officer is Information: 575-356-3940 2811 Lesson: Review. Information: 575- was done about it. acting in an official capacity, “which means I ■ Stitch Addicts — 7:15 p.m. at 763-9683 Clovis-Carver Public Library. Saturday The lawsuit also alleges superiors accused can’t sue the department for firing me for Lesson: Review. Information: 575- ■ Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Tuesday Ellison of “made up reasons” for conducting blowing the whistle on McCasland.” 763-9683 Christmas Binge — 2 p.m., 7 p.m. ■ Chamber Open House / a traffic stop on March 24, despite another “If I could go and re-do the situation, I ■ Toddler Time — 10 a.m. at in Town Hall at Clovis Community Potluck — 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the deputy vouching for Ellison and video would still rather do the right thing and get Clovis-Carver Public Library. College. Tickets: $10. Information: Roosevelt Chamber. Bring a side footage that supported the reasons for the fired than be a dirty cop. That’s just who I Information: 575-763-9683 575-769-2811 dish or dessert. Drinks, enchilada traffic stop. am,” Ellison said on Tuesday, adding that his ■ Lighthouse Mission casserole provided. Information: Ellison was terminated from the sheriff’s attorney, Eric Dixon, has appealed the dis- Thursday Children’s Christmas Party — 10 575-356-8541 office a week after reporting the incident missal in federal court, as well as filed a new ■ Mrs.